Letter to the editor: Dear Friend of Winter Park Christmas

Addressing the pending street performer ordinance

By Paul Vonder Heide
| 7:28 a.m. December 3, 2015

Winter Park - Maitland Observer
Opinion

Dear Friend of Winter Park Christmas,

On Monday, Nov. 23, 2015 at Winter Park City Hall, Winter Park City Commissioners voted to approve a proposed City ordinance (law) that would make Christmas caroling illegal on the Park Avenue public sidewalk.

State Law provides that City ordinance violations carry a maximum 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

In over 130 years as a city, Christmas caroling has never been a crime on the Park Avenue public sidewalk.

The City Commission’s final vote to outlaw Christmas caroling on Park Avenue is Monday, Dec. 14 at 3:30 pm at a public meeting in Winter Park City Hall.

Stop Winter Park politicians from stealing Christmas!

Here’s how you can help:

1) Email: [email protected]

2) Call Mayor and Commissioners at 407-599-3234

3) Say “vote no” on street performer ordinance

4) Note that you are a Winter Park resident (if you are)

5) Forward this to other friends of Christmas in Winter Park

Remember, the City Commission’s final vote is Monday, Dec. 14.

Link: Proposed City Street Performer Ordinance https://cityofwinterpark.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Item-e.pdf

Merry Christmas!

Paul Vonder Heide

P.S. Even wearing a Christmas Sweater or holding a sign with the words”Merry Christmas,” or reading the Christmas story from the Bible could be illegal on the Park Avenue public sidewalk if the so-called street performer ordinance is approved.

Quote from proposed ordinance:

1) Perform and performance means to engage in any of the following activities: acting; singing; playing musical instruments; puppetry; pantomiming, miming; performing or demonstrating magic or acts of illusion; dancing; juggling; or the public display of and composition or creation of crafts, sculpture, artistry, writings, or compositions, including the application of brush, pastel, crayon, pencil, or other similar objects applied to paper, cardboard, canvas, cloth or to other similar medium

Paul Vonder Heide is a friend of Christmas in Winter Park and a private citizen not affiliated with City of Winter Park, any street performers, or any candidate or Commissioner campaign.

This is protected free speech under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America.